Handheld electronic device and keyboard having multiple-function keys

ABSTRACT

An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keyboard provides enhanced usability with fewer keys by enabling the keys to pivot slightly to provide multiple functions to the keys. The improved keyboard may, for example, include internal strips of conductive carbon that are disposed adjacent the keys and are electrically engageable with contacts on a printed circuit board. Specifically, when a key is pressed directly downward it collapses a single dome and connects together a set of primary contacts to provide a first function. When the key is pressed at the side thereof, the key pivots slightly, collapses the dome and connects together the primary contacts, and also engages a carbon strip with a pair of secondary contacts to connect together the secondary contacts, all of which provide a second function. The keyboard may be configured to be of a QWERTY configuration while using only a relatively small number of keys.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/947,957, filed Nov. 30, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/785,633, filed Feb. 24, 2004. U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/947,957, and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/785,633 areexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to handheld electronic devices and, moreparticularly, to a keyboard for a handheld electronic device.

2. Background Information

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal dataassistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellulartelephones, and the like. Such handheld electronic devices are generallyintended to be portable and thus must be relatively small. Many handheldelectronic devices feature wireless communication capability, althoughmany such handheld electronic devices are stand-alone. Since handheldelectronic devices typically are portable, it is also desired that theform factor of the devices be sufficiently small and ergonomic that theycan conveniently be transported with a belt clip, in a user's pocket,manually, or in a briefcase. Advancements in technology have permittedthe form factor of such handheld electronic devices to be reduced whileincreasing their versatility and functionality, such as by increasingthe number of functions provided by the device as well as increasing thenumber of software applications and the variety of their features.However, as the form factor of a handheld electronic device decreasesand the number of functions provided by the device increases, the devicepotentially can become awkward and difficult to use. Thus, it is alsodesirable to improve the usability of a handheld electronic device asits form factor is reduced and its versatility is increased. Previousattempts to increase such usability have had limitations.

One such type of solution has involved the use of large numbers of keyswhich, when pressed in various combinations, would produce variousfunctions. For instance, adjacent keys were depressed simultaneously toprovide additional functions. In mobile electronics, keys oftentimes areoperatively connected with metal or carbon coated poly domes that act asswitches for the keys and that are collapsible and provide tactilefeedback to a user when the domes are collapsed from a relaxed positionto a deflected position. The simultaneous pressing of multiple keys toprovide a given function thus oftentimes can result in the collapsing ofmultiple domes, which can result in a confusing and/or undesirabletactile feedback to a user. Other attempts at improving usability haveinvolved decreasing the quantity of keys on a handheld device whileincreasing the number of functions each key is to serve. Such systemspotentially can become cumbersome because the various functions of agiven key may additionally require the pressing of a SHIFT key, an ALTkey, or another key to provide the various functions. In such acircumstance, the required multiple key pushing requires multiple handmovements which interfere with user friendliness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved handheld electronic device and keyboard in accordance withthe invention meet these and other needs. An improved handheldelectronic device having an improved keyboard provides enhancedusability with fewer keys by enabling the keys to pivot slightly toprovide multiple functions to the keys. The improved keyboard may, forexample, include internal strips of conductive carbon that are disposedadjacent the keys and are electrically engageable with contacts on aprinted circuit board. Specifically, when a key is pressed directlydownward it collapses a single dome and connects together a set ofprimary contacts to provide a first function. When the key is pressed atthe side thereof, the key pivots slightly, collapses the dome andconnects together the primary contacts, and also engages a carbon stripwith a pair of secondary contacts to connect together the secondarycontacts, all of which provide a second function. The keyboard may beconfigured to be of a QWERTY configuration while using only a relativelysmall number of keys.

Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an improvedhandheld electronic device and an improved keyboard that provideenhanced usability while employing a relatively small number of keys.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device and an improved keyboard having keys that each includemultiple functions that are provided by pressing the key at one sidethereof, at another side thereof, or in the center thereof.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device and an improved keyboard that provide both collapsibledomes (or alternative switches providing tactile feedback) andconductive carbon strips (or alternative switches generally notproviding tactile feedback), with collapsing of a dome providing a firstfunction, and with collapsing of the dome and engaging a carbon stripproviding a second function.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device and an improved keyboard that provide keys havingmultiple functions with a single press while providing a desirabletactile feedback of a single collapsing dome to the user.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device and an improved keyboard of a QWERTY configurationhaving a relatively small number of keys with multiple characters beingprovided on each key.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device and an improved keyboard having a plurality ofmulti-function keys, with each key being movable between an initialposition and a plurality of terminal positions, and with the variousterminal positions of the key and the various functions of the keycorresponding with one another.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handhelddevice and an improved keyboard that enables a small form factor whilestill providing enhanced usability or user friendliness.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved keyboard ofthe type that is structured to be incorporated into an electronicdevice, in which the general nature of the keyboard can be stated asincluding a printed circuit board, a primary conductor portion, asecondary conductor portion, and a number of keys. The printed circuitboard has a plurality of electrical contacts. The primary conductorportion includes a number of primary conductors, with each one of saidprimary conductors being elastically deflectable between a relaxedposition and a deflected position, and with each one of said primaryconductors in the deflected position electrically connecting together apair of the electrical contacts. The secondary conductor portionincludes a number of secondary conductors, with each one of saidsecondary conductors being elastically deflectable between a relaxedposition and a deflected position, and with each one of said secondaryconductors in the deflected position electrically connecting together apair of the electrical contacts. Each one of said keys is cooperablewith a corresponding one of said primary conductors and at least a firstcorresponding one of said secondary conductors. The primary conductorsand the secondary conductors are disposed between the printed circuitboard and the keys. Each one of said keys is movable between an initialposition, a first terminal position, and a second terminal position,with the key in the first terminal position deflecting the correspondingone of said primary conductors to its deflected position, and with thekey in the second terminal position deflecting the corresponding one ofsaid primary conductors and the at least a first corresponding one ofsaid secondary conductors to their deflected positions.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved handheldelectronic device, the general nature of which can be stated asincluding a keyboard, a display positioned adjacent the keyboard, and aprocessor structured to receive inputs from the keyboard and to outputto the display as a function of said inputs. The keyboard may include aprinted circuit board, a primary conductor portion, a secondaryconductor portion, and a number of keys. The printed circuit board has aplurality of electrical contacts. The primary conductor portion includesa number of primary conductors, with each one of said primary conductorsbeing elastically deflectable between a relaxed position and a deflectedposition, and with each one of said primary conductors in the deflectedposition electrically connecting together a pair of the plurality ofelectrical contacts. The secondary conductor portion includes a numberof secondary conductors, with each one of said secondary conductorsbeing elastically deflectable between a relaxed position and a deflectedposition, and with each one of said secondary conductors in thedeflected position electrically connecting together a pair of theplurality of electrical contacts. Each key is cooperable with acorresponding one of said primary conductors and at least a firstcorresponding one of said secondary conductors, and the primaryconductors and the secondary conductors are disposed between the printedcircuit board and the keys. Each one of said keys is movable between aninitial position, a first terminal position, and a second terminalposition, with the key in the first terminal position deflecting thecorresponding one of said primary conductors to its deflected position,and with the key in the second terminal position deflecting thecorresponding one of said primary conductors and the at least a firstcorresponding one of said secondary conductors to their deflectedpositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the followingDescription of the Preferred Embodiment when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an improved handheld electronic device inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an improved keyboard in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the keyboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the primary conductor portion of thekeyboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the secondary conductor portion of thekeyboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the spacer of the keyboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the printed circuit board of the keyboardof FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board of thekeyboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view as taken along Line 8-8 of FIG. 2 anddepicting a key of the keyboard in an initial position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, except depicting the key in thefirst terminal position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, except depicting the key in thesecond terminal position; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8, except depicting the key in thethird terminal position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An improved handheld electronic device 4 in accordance with theinvention is shown in FIG. 1. The handheld electronic device 4 includesan improved keyboard 8 in accordance with the invention that isdepicted, in whole or in part, in FIGS. 2-11. More particularly, thehandheld electronic device 4 includes the keyboard 8, a housing 12, adisplay 16, and a suitable processor 18 (e.g., without limitation, amicroprocessor) having software 20 that resides in the handheldelectronic device 4 and that provides functionality to inputs receivedfrom the keyboard 8 and provides outputs to the display 16. The keyboard8 and the display 16 are disposed on the housing 12, and the operabilityof the software 20 is enabled by the processor 18. Examples of handheldelectronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and6,489,950, which are incorporated by reference herein.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the exemplary keyboard 8 includes a pluralityof keys 60, each of which includes a number of characters 24. As usedherein, the expression “a number of” and variations thereof shall referbroadly to any non-zero positive quantity, including a quantity of one.The exemplary keys 60 depicted and described herein each include a firstcharacter 28 that is generally centrally disposed on the key 60, asecond character 32 that is generally disposed at a left end (from theperspective of FIG. 2) of the key 60, and a third character 36 that isgenerally disposed at a right end (from the perspective of FIG. 2) ofthe key 60, with the first, second, and third characters 28, 32, and 36being referable collectively, in whole or in part, by the aforementionednumeral 24.

As can further be seen in FIG. 2, many of the exemplary first characters28 are digits, and many of the second and third characters 32 and 36,respectively, are letters. Also, many of the second and third characters32 and 36, respectively, together are of a QWERTY configuration toprovide a QWERTY key configuration for the handheld electronic device 4of FIG. 1. It is understood, however, that the arrangement of thecharacters 24 can be different than the exemplary arrangement depictedin FIG. 2. For instance, the first, second, and third characters 28, 32,and 36, respectively, can together form a QWERTY arrangement.Alternately, the characters 24 could be numerical or mathematicalsymbols, could be characters of different languages, or could be ofvirtually any other character and/or keyboard configuration.

As can be best understood from FIG. 3, the keyboard 8 includes a keypad40, a primary conductor portion 44, a secondary conductor portion 48having a spacer 52, and a printed circuit board 56. The aforementionedcomponents of the keyboard 8 can be adhered together or otherwiseattached to one another, while in other embodiments the components neednot be adhered to one another in any fashion.

The keypad 40 includes the aforementioned keys 60 and a key panel 64.The keys 60 are movably disposed on the key panel 64 and are permittedto pivot slightly with respect thereto.

The primary conductor portion 44 includes a plurality of conductivedomes 68 disposed on a dome panel 72. The dome panel 72 includes aplurality of primary holes 74 (FIG. 8) formed therein and a plurality offlexible adhesive members 70 (FIG. 8) disposed on one surface of thedome panel 72 and positioned adjacent the primary holes 74. The domes 68extend through the primary holes 74, and the apex of each dome 68, i.e.,the proud portion thereof, is adhered to one of the adhesive members 70.The circular edge of each dome 68 opposite the apex thereof protrudesoutwardly from and beyond the associated primary hole 74. While in thedepicted exemplary embodiment the domes 68 are adhered to the dome panel72 with the adhesive members 70, it is understood that in otherembodiments the domes 68 and the dome panel 72 may be connected togetherin other fashions, or might not be connected together at all, withoutdeparting from the concept of the invention.

The domes 68 are elastically deflectable between a relaxed position,i.e., FIG. 8, and a deflected position, i.e., FIGS. 9-11. The movementof the domes 68 between the relaxed and deflected positions occurs viaelastic deformation of the domes 68 and causes the domes to “snap”between the relaxed and deflected conditions to provide a desirabletactile feedback.

The secondary conductor portion 48 includes a plurality of elongatedconductive carbon strips 76 disposed on a flexible support sheet 80. Thesupport sheet 80 includes a plurality of primary holes 84 formed thereinbetween pairs of adjacent carbon strips 76. The primary holes 84 in thesupport sheet 80 are arranged to correspond with and be similar to thearrangement of the primary holes 74 in the dome panel 72. It isunderstood that in other embodiments the secondary conductor portion 48could have elongated strips of a different conductive material, such asa metal or other material, without departing from the concept of theinvention. The support sheet 80 may be a thin plastic sheet, althoughother configurations are possible.

It is understood that the primary conductor portion 44 and the secondaryconductor portion 48 can be said to provide switches for the keys 60.Such switches of the primary conductor portion 44 provide a tactilefeedback, and such switches of the secondary conductor portion 48generally do not provide tactile feedback, but such switches could be ofother configurations.

The spacer 52 is a sheet of material that can be generally said to spacethe carbon strips 76 away from the printed circuit board 56. The spacer52 includes a plurality of circular primary holes 88 arranged in rowssimilar to the arrangement of the primary holes 84 in the support sheet80 and the primary holes 74 in the dome panel 72. The spacer 52additionally includes a plurality of elongated secondary holes 92 thatcorrespond generally with the arrangement of the carbon strips 76 on thesupport sheet 80. In the exemplary embodiment, the spacer 52 is a thinsheet of an insulative material, such as plastic, althoughconfigurations are possible. It is also understood that the keyboard 8potentially could be configured in other fashions that would eliminatethe need for the spacer 52 but would still be considered to be withinthe scope of the invention.

As is best shown in FIG. 7, the printed circuit board 56 includes aplurality of primary contacts 96 and a plurality of secondary contacts100. The primary and secondary contacts 96 and 100, respectively, areelectrically conductive electrical contacts which, when connected withone another, such as with a conductor extending therebetween, completesa circuit or completes an open portion of a circuit. The primarycontacts 96 are, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, arranged in pairsand specifically include a ball contact 98 and a ring contact 102, withthe ring contact 102 extending concentrically about the ball contact 98.

The domes 68 (FIG. 8) each also extend through an aligned pair of theprimary holes 84 and 88 formed in the support sheet 80 and the spacer52, respectively. The circular ends of the domes 68 rest on the ringcontacts 102 of the primary contacts 96.

The secondary contacts 100 are arranged in pairs and are generally of an“intermeshed comb” arrangement. In the exemplary embodiment of theprinted circuit board 56 depicted in FIG. 7 and described herein,certain of the primary contacts 96 are electrically connected with leadsto certain of the secondary contacts 100, and numerous other contactconfigurations are possible without departing from the concept of theinvention.

As can be understood from FIGS. 8-11, each key 60 includes a fingerplate 104, a first protrusion 108 in the exemplary form of a hollowcylinder, a second protrusion 112, and a third protrusion 116. Thefinger plate 104 is engageable by a user's finger and includes thecharacters 24 (FIG. 2) disposed thereon. The first, second, and thirdprotrusions 108, 112, and 116, respectively, extend outwardly away fromthe finger plate 104 in a common direction which, in the exemplaryembodiment, is opposite the characters 24. In the exemplary key 60 ofFIGS. 8-11, the free ends of the first, second, and third protrusions108, 112, and 116, respectively, do not lie within a plane and may be ofconfigurations other than that depicted herein depending upon theconfiguration of the other components of the keyboard 8.

As can further be understood from FIG. 8, each key 60 is associated withone of the domes 68 and with a pair of the carbon strips 76 (FIG. 3). InFIG. 8, the key 60 is in an initial position which corresponds with therelaxed position of the associated dome 68 and the relaxed positions ofthe associated carbon strips 76. When the key 60 is depressed straighttoward the printed circuit board 56, such as is depicted generally inFIG. 9, and which would correspond with a user pressing the key 60 atthe first character 28 (FIG. 2), the first protrusion 108 of the key 60engages the dome 68 that is associated with the key 60 and elasticallycollapses the dome 68 to the deflected position, while the carbon strips76 associated the dome 68 remain in their relaxed positions. The key 60in FIG. 9 is in the first terminal position, and thus it can be seenthat the key 60 is movable between the initial position and the firstterminal position.

When the dome 68 is in the deflected position, it contacts the ballcontact 98 of the associated pair of primary contacts 96. The domes 68are primary conductors which, when engaged with a corresponding set ofprimary contacts 96, electrically connect together the pair of primarycontacts 96 in order to complete a circuit or to complete an openportion of a circuit, which provides a first function associated withthe first terminal position of the key 60. The dome 68 is configured to“snap” when moving between the relaxed position (FIG. 8) and thedeflected position (FIG. 9), and such a “snap” provides a desirabletactile feedback to the user.

As can be understood from FIGS. 10 and 11, the key 60 is also movablebetween the initial position and the second terminal position, i.e.,FIG. 10, that would correspond with a user pressing the second character32 (FIG. 2), which provides the key 60 with a second function associatedwith the second terminal position of the key 60. The key 60 is alsomovable between the initial position and the third terminal position,i.e., FIG. 11, which would correspond with a user pressing the thirdcharacter 36 (FIG. 2) of the key 60 to provide the key with a thirdfunction associated with the third terminal position of the key 60.

When the key 60 is in the second terminal position, i.e., FIG. 10, theassociated dome 68 is in its deflected position, and one of the carbonstrips 76 associated with the key 60 is also in its deflected condition.When the key 60 is in the third terminal position, i.e., FIG. 11, theassociated dome 68 is in its deflected position, and the other of thecarbon strips 76 associated with the key 60 is also in its deflectedcondition. Each carbon strip 76 serves as a secondary conductor that isengageable with a pair of the secondary contacts 100 for the purpose ofelectrically connecting together the pair of secondary contacts 100 tocomplete a circuit or to complete an open portion of a circuit.

The carbon strips 76 are mounted on the support sheet 80 (FIG. 5), whichis flexible, and which permits elastic deflection of the carbon strips76 between a relaxed position (FIG. 8) and the aforementioned deflectedposition (FIGS. 10 and 11). The carbon strips 76 in the deflectedposition extend through the associated secondary holes 92 in the spacer52 (FIG. 6). In the exemplary embodiment depicted herein the carbonstrips 76 do not “snap” or otherwise proved a discrete tactile feedbackto the user. Some feedback to the user is acceptable, however, such asthe slight additional finger force required to elastically deflect thecarbon strips 76 between the relaxed and deflected positions. In otherembodiments, the carbon strips 76 can be configured to provide specifictactile feedback to the user in moving between the relaxed and deflectedpositions without departing from the concept of the invention.

The key 60 in the second terminal position is pivoted slightly in adirection away from the first terminal position. In the exemplaryembodiment depicted herein, the second terminal position, i.e., FIG. 10,is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction from the first terminalposition, i.e., FIG. 9, from the perspective of FIGS. 9 and 11.

When the key 60 is in the third terminal position, as is depicted inFIG. 11, the associated dome 68 is in the deflected condition, and theother associated carbon strip 76 is deflected from its relaxed positionto its deflected position. The key 60 in the third terminal position ispivoted in a different direction away from the first terminal position,which direction in the depicted embodiment is a clockwise direction fromthe first terminal position, i.e., FIG. 9, from the perspective of FIGS.9 and 11.

When the carbon strips 76 are moved to their deflected positions, whichalternately occur at the second and third terminal positions of the key60, the deflected carbon strip 76 engages an associated pair of thesecondary contacts 100 and, being a conductor, electrically connectstogether the pair of secondary contacts 100. In the embodiment depictedherein, a given pair of the secondary contacts 100 extends along theprinted circuit board 56 adjacent a plurality of the pairs of primarycontacts 96 and, in the depicted embodiment, the primary contacts 96 ofsome of the pairs of the primary contacts 96 lie on opposite sides ofthe given set of secondary contacts 100. Since, in the depictedexemplary embodiment, a single pair of the secondary contacts 100extends past a plurality of pairs of the primary contacts 96, the singleset of secondary contacts 100 serves as the associated secondarycontacts 100 for all of the keys 60 with which the adjacent pairs ofprimary contacts 96 are associated.

It thus can be seen that each key 60 is movable between the initialposition and a plurality of terminal positions, i.e., the first, second,and third terminal positions, depicted in FIGS. 9-11, respectively. Thethree terminal positions are associated with the three characters 24(FIG. 2) on the keys 60, and the various engagements of the domes 68 andthe carbon strips 76 provide various inputs to the handheld electronicdevice 4 and to which the processor 18 and the software 20 providefunctionality.

EXAMPLES

An keying chart is provided in Table 1. The vertical column Key Outrefers to five outputs from the processor 18 to the keyboard 8 which arenormally set to HIGH. Key In refers to eight inputs to the processor 18from the keyboard 8 which are normally set to LOW. The numerals C1, C2,C3, C4, C5, and C6 (FIG. 5) refer to the exemplary six carbon strips 76identified from left to right from the perspective of FIG. 5.

TABLE 1 Key Key IN OUT 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 QW AS ZX ALT C1 1 ER DF CV NEXTC2 2 TY GH BN <SPACE> C3 3 UI JK M CAP C4 4 OP L <Backspace> <ENTER> C5C6

The processor 18 scans the Key Out outputs and scans the Key In inputsto detect changes of state. For instance, if the QW key is pressed tothe third terminal position, the dome that corresponds with the QW keywould electrically connect the corresponding primary contacts 96, andthe C2 carbon strip (FIG. 5) would electrically connect thecorresponding secondary contacts 100. From the collapsing of the QWdome, the processor 18 would detect that the voltage of Key Out 0 haddropped and that the voltage of Key In 0 had risen. This would providean input (0,0) to the processor 18. From the deflection of the C2 carbonstrip the processor 18 would detect that the voltage of Key Out 1 haddropped and that the voltage of Key In 4 had risen. This would providean input (1,4) to the processor 18.

An key combination chart is provided in Table 2. From the example givenabove, the combination of inputs QW, i.e., (0,0) and C2, i.e., (1,4)results in the character W. The processor 18 sends an appropriate signalto the display 16 to depict the character W.

In the exemplary embodiment, the second and third characters 32 and 36,respectively, i.e., the various letters of the keyboard 8, are generatedfrom inputs of combinations of keys 60 and carbon strips 76, althoughthis need not be the case. The first characters 28, i.e., the digits andsymbols of the keyboard 8, are generated from inputs of combinations ofthe key 60 on which the digit or symbol appears and the ALT key 62,although this need not be the case. Various configurations of Key In andKey Out, as well as the key combination, can be employed withoutdeparting from the concept of the invention.

TABLE 2 Key combinations C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 ALT QW Q W ! ER E R 1 TY T Y2 UI U I 3 OP O P . AS A S ? DF D F 4 GH G H 5 JK J K 6 L L L , ZX Z XSYM CV C V 7 BN B N 8 M M M 9 Backspace DEL NEXT * Space 0 CAP #

Another example, for which sample keying and key combination charts havenot been provided, would include a situation in which the actuation of asingle key 60 to the first terminal position would result in an input tothe processor 18 which the processor 18 would recognize as the firstcharacter 28 disposed at the center of the key 60. When one of the keys60 is pressed to the first terminal position, the processor 18 wouldrecognize the action as the input of the first character 28 without theneed to press additional keys, such as the ALT key 62. Furthermore, sucha key 60 could additionally include a fourth character 24 disposed atthe center of the key 60 which, when combined with the ALT key 62, couldbe recognized by the processor 18 as a different fourth input.

The improved keyboard 8 can be employed in numerous differentadvantageous fashions with the handheld electronic device 4. Forinstance, and as depicted herein, the second and third characters 32 and36, respectively, (FIG. 2) can be letters that together form a QWERTYkeyboard, and the first characters 28 can be digits and the othersymbols found on a typical keyboard. The software 20 potentially couldprovide a predictive text function which reviews a user's inputs fromthe keyboard 8 and corrects errors (e.g., without limitation, spellingand/or grammar errors), such as if the first character 28 is pressedinstead of the second character 32, then the software 20 concludes thatthe second character 32 was desired to have been input.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alternatives to those details could be developed inlight of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, theparticular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only andnot limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given thefull breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

1. A handheld electronic device comprising: an input device; the inputdevice comprising a primary conductor portion, a secondary conductorportion, and a number of actuable selectors; the primary conductorportion comprising a number of primary conductors, at least some of theprimary conductors each being movable between a first position and asecond position, at least some of primary conductors in the secondposition each completing an open portion of a circuit; the secondaryconductor portion comprising a number of secondary conductors, at leastsome of the secondary conductors each being movable between a firstposition and a second position, at least some of secondary conductors inthe second position each completing an open portion of a circuit; atleast some of actuable selectors each being cooperable with acorresponding primary conductor, a first corresponding secondaryconductor, and a second corresponding secondary conductor; and the atleast some of the actuable selectors each being movable between aninitial position and at least one terminal position.
 2. The handheldelectronic device of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal positioncomprises a first terminal position and a second terminal position, inthe first terminal position a corresponding primary conductor being inthe second position and in the second terminal position thecorresponding primary conductor being in the second position and thefirst corresponding second conductor being in the second position. 3.The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the at least one terminal positionfurther comprises a third terminal position, and in the third terminalposition the corresponding primary conductor being in the secondposition and the second corresponding second conductor being in thesecond position.
 4. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein at least some of thekeys each comprise a plate, a first protrusion, a second protrusion, anda third protrusion, the first, second, and third protrusions beingdisposed on and protruding outwardly from the plate, in the firstterminal position the first protrusion being operatively engaged withthe corresponding primary conductor, in the second terminal position thefirst protrusion being operatively engaged with the correspondingprimary conductor and the second protrusion being operatively engagedwith the corresponding first secondary conductor, and in the thirdterminal position the first protrusion being operatively engaged withthe corresponding primary conductor and the third protrusion beingoperatively engaged with the corresponding second secondary conductor.5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein at least some of the plates comprisea first character disposed generally centrally thereon, a secondcharacter disposed at one end thereof, and a third character at anotherend thereof, the first character corresponding with the first terminalposition, the second character corresponding with the second terminalposition, and the third character corresponding with the third terminalposition.
 6. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein the plate comprises a firstcharacter disposed at one end thereof and a second character disposed atanother end thereof, at least a portion of the first and secondcharacters of the keys together being arranged in a QWERTYconfiguration.
 7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein atleast some of the secondary conductors each extend substantiallyadjacent at least one of the primary conductors and are one of the firstand second corresponding secondary conductors for the keys with whichthe plurality of primary conductors correspond.
 8. The handheldelectronic device of claim 7 wherein the primary conductors aresubstantially dome shaped and the secondary conductors are elongatestrips.
 9. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein at leastsome of secondary conductors extend between a pair of the primaryconductors and are one of the first and second corresponding secondaryconductors for the keys with which the pair of primary conductors areassociated.
 10. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein theprimary conductors are substantially dome shaped and the secondaryconductors are elongate strips, the primary conductor portion comprisinga panel on which at least one of the primary conductors is disposed, thesecondary conductor portion comprising a support on which at least oneof the conductive carbon strips is disposed, the support having a numberof primary holes, the primary conductors being at least partiallyreceivable through the primary holes.
 11. A keyboard for an electronicdevice, the keyboard comprising: a primary conductor portion comprisinga number of primary conductors, at least some of the primary conductorseach being movable between a first position and a second position, atleast some of primary conductors in the second position each completingan open portion of a circuit; a secondary conductor portion comprising anumber of secondary conductors, at least some of the secondaryconductors each being movable between a first position and a secondposition, at least some of secondary conductors in the second positioneach completing an open portion of a circuit; a number of keys, at leastsome of keys each being cooperable with a corresponding primaryconductor, a first corresponding secondary conductor, and a secondcorresponding secondary conductor; and the at least some of the keyseach being movable between an initial position and at least one terminalposition.
 12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the at least oneterminal position comprises a first terminal position and a secondterminal position, in the first terminal position a correspondingprimary conductor being in the second position and in the secondterminal position the corresponding primary conductor being in thesecond position and the first corresponding second conductor being inthe second position.
 13. The keyboard of claim 12 wherein the at leastone terminal position further comprises a third terminal position, andin the third terminal position the corresponding primary conductor beingin the second position and the second corresponding second conductorbeing in the second position.
 14. The keyboard of claim 13 wherein atleast some of the keys each comprise a plate, a first protrusion, asecond protrusion, and a third protrusion, the first, second, and thirdprotrusions being disposed on and protruding outwardly from the plate,in the first terminal position the first protrusion being operativelyengaged with the corresponding primary conductor, in the second terminalposition the first protrusion being operatively engaged with thecorresponding primary conductor and the second protrusion beingoperatively engaged with the corresponding first secondary conductor,and in the third terminal position the first protrusion beingoperatively engaged with the corresponding primary conductor and thethird protrusion being operatively engaged with the corresponding secondsecondary conductor.
 15. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein at least someof the plates comprise a first character disposed generally centrallythereon, a second character disposed at one end thereof, and a thirdcharacter at another end thereof, the first character corresponding withthe first terminal position, the second character corresponding with thesecond terminal position, and the third character corresponding with thethird terminal position.
 16. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the platecomprises a first character disposed at one end thereof and a secondcharacter disposed at another end thereof, at least a portion of thefirst and second characters of the keys together being arranged in aQWERTY configuration.
 17. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein at least aportion of some of the secondary conductors extends substantiallyadjacent a plurality of the primary conductors and are one of the firstand second corresponding secondary conductors for the keys with whichthe plurality of primary conductors substantially correspond.
 18. Thekeyboard of claim 17 wherein the primary conductors are substantiallydome shaped and the secondary conductors are elongate.
 19. The keyboardof claim 11 wherein at least some of secondary conductors extend betweena plurality of conductors and are one of the corresponding secondaryconductors for the keys with which the pair of primary conductors areassociated.
 20. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the primary conductorsare substantially dome shaped and the secondary conductors are elongate,the primary conductor portion comprising a panel on which at least oneprimary conductor is disposed, the secondary conductor portioncomprising a support on which at least some of the conductive carbonstrips are disposed, the support having a number of holes, some of theprimary conductorss being at least partially receivable through theholes.
 21. The keyboard of claim 20 wherein the secondary conductorportion comprises a spacer disposed adjacent the support, the spacerhaving a number of primary holes and at least one elongate secondaryhole, at least one primary conuctor being at least partially receivablethrough a primary hole of the spacer, at least one elongate strips inthe second position being at least partially receivable a secondary holeof the spacer.